Greeley man sentenced to 72 years to life behind bars for sexually assaulting young girl

Posted on 03/08/2018

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Weld County man will spend at least the next seven decades behind bars after sexually assaulting a nine year old girl in July of 2016.

Thursday morning, Weld District Court Judge Shannon Lyons sentenced Joseph Covington, 34, to 72 years to life in prison on charges of sexual assault on a child, kidnapping and enticement of a child.

Accoridng to court documents, Covington assaulted the girl at his Greeley apartment when the victim arrived at his home, looking to play with a child who also lived there.

Covington told the victim the young boy she was looking to play with was inside the residence, when he wasn’t. He then followed her in his apartment and sexually assaulted her for more than an hour-and-a-half in various rooms.

Covington’s DNA was found on the girl’s body and clothes, and a jury found him guilty in November of 2017.

“He tried to break her that day,” Weld Chief Deputy District Attorney Thea Carrasco told the judge during sentencing. “And frankly he came pretty darn close. He stole the innocence from this precious child. This little girl’s life will never be the same. But because of her bravery and courage, I have hope that she will be a survivor and not a victim of this man’s horrific crime for the rest of her life.”